A mountain biker and a photography enthusiast, a politician since grade school, an introvert who talks a lot, and a frustrated politician who is stuck in Chemistry. Last February, these four personalities overcame the hype of a no-party election and exceeded the 50+1 quota.
While most leaders are said to be born and not made, the Top 4 Sanggunian Officers—Gio Tingson, Jauro Castro, Kacci Morales, and Rob Roque—reveal their motivations for mandating the student body. They tell The GUIDON what they have to say about themselves: where they’re coming from, what they’ll be doing, and where they’re headed.
Gio Tingson
“Think big.” At first glance, this seems to be pertaining to the President himself, Gregorio Ramon “Gio” Tingson, who stands at six feet. His motto, however, is more than just a catchy tagline for himself.
“My platform was about grand ideas that have to happen because there are major challenges for this school year, such as the [sesquicentennial] celebration and the 2010 elections,” he says. Despite the delays caused by the A(H1N1) virus—even the Sanggu president had to self-quarantine after his study tour abroad—Gio says, “To think big is to equip ourselves with the right tools to do more. Bring out each core competency of the students… and contribute this to nation-building.”
While the Sanggunian has been an avenue for him to affect change, Gio says his passion in leading came from the little hobbies that he indulges in—like mountain biking. “I’m game for anything as long as it enriches me as a person.”
Next on his list is photography, a hobby that he has been cultivating since his father handed him down a film SLR. He says, “I have been a ‘feeling’ photographer for the past six years.”
His biggest goal? Sustainable development, without drawing attention to himself. This, he says, will prevent a personality-driven Sanggunian. “If our goal is to progress, then we have to be remembered as [an] institution.”
Jauro Castro
He realized his dream during his grade school years, when he decided that he would hold a local government position in Pampanga, Yet this year, Carlo Jauharo “Jauro” Castro settled for the position of Vice President—a step down from last year’s aspiration. “I realized that the sense of contentment didn’t necessarily lie in being the president,” he says.
Jauro puts his early political fervor to work during his earlier years as a true blue Atenean. “I found campaigning [to be] fun—and because I didn’t have any sport!” he says. “I started getting really serious with student politics when I entered high school.”
He takes his lead from Nikki Castro, a Sanggunian member since his high school years and an inspiration to Jauro. “He served in our LS Sanggunian until he succumbed to cancer,” says Jauro. “No other person had the same passion to serve, the same level of personal care for his constituents, and the same drive to do more than [him].”
While this may be his last year in student politics, Jauro’s aspirations and perseverance are sure to take him to greater heights, in attaining s local government post in his province—and perhaps even more.
Kacci Morales
Kacci. The name itself screams individuality. Katrina “Kacci” Morales says she has been rather different from peers in her own right. Aside from her changing hairdo’s—from pixie cuts to layered locks, which she determines every April, October, and December—Kacci’s gift of gab seems unmatched.
This 20-year-old, however, claims that she has been an introvert since childhood—generating raised eyebrows from friends. “I’m an introvert but I talk a lot,” she says in Filipino. Her introversion is limited to some emotional aspects of her life. “I will tell you anything, how I tripped and fell, but I wouldn’t tell you that I got hurt.”
In a way, this reflects her leadership style, which had been in effect since her grade school and high school years in Miriam College. “I’m strict, [but] when I lead, I don’t make it a point that I impose something,” says Kacci. “But if I really want something to happen, I get it from the people. I’ll wait for the answer to come out of somebody else.”
Come college, Kacci ventured into bigger responsibilities. She was a block representative in her first two years and a Secretary-Treasurer in her junior year.
Under her leadership and guidance as the Secretary General, what Kacci hopes to make of Sanggunian is a team that feeds on each other’s strengths and gains, letting them make a difference in society in their own way.
Rob Roque
He entered the university as an 18-year-old who doesn’t drink or drive, unlike any other adult his age. Instead, Rob Brian Roque—a merit scholar from Navotas, with no required service hours and a science high school graduate—started his career in the Sanggunian to fulfill two things: his need to give back and his frustrations of becoming a Political Science major.
“I was fascinated with the idea of running in a student government that was like the Philippine [government],” he says.” It was empowering to think that you’re like a senator.”
Being a Central Board Representative for two years made it clear that social involvement was the name of Rob’s game. This other-centered focus, both in his campaign and his outlook in life, is hitched on the one thing he is most proud of—his religion. Despite other responsibilities, Rob is still an active member of the Youth for Christ (YFC).
Now a 20-year-old Chemistry student, Rob’s features remain child-like and innocent, which comes in contrast with a ripe passion for service. He was taught to manage his wants to serve others. “I can’t just say that I want to buy something,” he says. “There has to be a reason for it.”
This is his jump-off point to being a Finance Officer who is ‘more than just the money.’ “You can use [the money] to direct people to where you want to go,” he says.
A born strategist, Rob plans on using his experience even after college. “Since I can’t use it in the lab, maybe there are other jobs that would,” he says. But, those plans are not yet set in stone—three more years in college can still bring a lot of possibilities.
